Midfielder Jermaine Jones will miss Wednesday’s game between the U.S. and Italy because of a calf injury, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced on Saturday.

Jones strained his right calf last week while training with his club, Schalke 04 in Germany, and was held out of Thursday’s UEFA Europa League victory over visiting Viktoria Plzen. He won’t make the trip to Italy and will not be replaced on the U.S. roster.

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann still will have 17 field players to choose from ahead of next week’s friendly in Genoa, but Jones, 30, is one of the coach’s preferred options. The veteran is an athletic and intimidating presence in central midfield, has a good shot from long range and can be a decent passer when he plays the ball conservatively. Available for last month’s games against Venezuela and Panama because of a suspension from Bundesliga play, Jones was named team captain and played the full 90 minutes in both 1-0 wins.

Klinsmann likely will rely on Michael Bradley, a defensive midfield regular for Italian Serie A club Chievo Verona, against the Azzurri on Wednesday (2:45 p.m. ET, ESPN2/Galavision). Rangers FC’s Maurice Edu also will be available.

The game in Genoa will be the last time Klinsmann is able to gather his full team before preparation for World Cup qualifying begins in late May. The U.S. will play friendlies against Scotland (May 26), Brazil (May 30) and Canada (June 3) before meeting Antigua and Barbuda in the opening qualifier in Tampa on June 8.